FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP INC
S-8, 1997-12-15
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>


  As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 1997.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                          FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                 Delaware                            36-3161078
        (State of Incorporation)    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

   300 Park Boulevard, Suite 405, Itasca, Illinois  60143-0459 (630) 875-7450
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


                          FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC.
                     1989 OMNIBUS STOCK AND INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                            Mr. Donald J. Swistowicz
                            Executive Vice President
                          First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.
                               300 Park Boulevard
                                   Suite 405
                          Itasca, Illinois  60143-0459
                                 (630) 875-7450
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                 ------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Proposed maximum      Proposed maximum     Amount of
Title of securities to    Amount to be      offering price per    aggregate offering   registration
  be registered (1)      registered (2)         share (3)             period (3)           fee
- ----------------------   --------------     ------------------    ------------------   ------------
<S>                      <C>                <C>                   <C>                  <C>
  Common Stock, $.01     1,000,000.00             $41.06             $41,060,000        $12,442.41
  par value
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) The Registrant is also registering preferred share purchase rights which are
    evidenced by the certificates for the Common Stock being registered in a
    ratio of one Preferred Share Purchase Right for each share of Common Stock.

(2) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
    Statement also covers an indeterminate number of shares as may be issuable
    to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar
    transactions. The securities registered hereunder have been adjusted to
    reflect the 5-for-4 stock split distributed on December 16, 1996.

(3) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant
    to Rule 457(h)(1) based upon the aggregate of (a) the weighted average
    option price per share for each of the 116,439 shares covered by options
    outstanding under the Plan on December 10 , 1997 and (b) the averages of the
    high and low prices for the Common Stock reported on the NASDAQ National
    Market System on December 10, 1997 for each of the remaining 883,561 shares.
<PAGE>
 
                          FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC.

                                   FORM S-8



     This Registration Statement relates to the registration of 1,000,000
additional shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share of First Midwest
Bancorp, Inc. reserved for issuance and delivery under the First Midwest
Bancorp, Inc. 1989 Stock and Incentive Plan, as amended (the "Plan"). Such
additional shares are being reserved pursuant to an amendment to increase the
number of shares authorized to be issued under the Plan which was approved by
the Registrant's shareholders on April 16, 1996. The amount of shares being
registered was adjusted to reflect a 5-for-4 stock split distributed on December
16, 1996. Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, the contents of First
Midwest Bancorp, Inc. 1989 Stock and Incentive Plan Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (File No. 33-42980) as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on September 25, 1991 are incorporated herein by reference, except as
the same may be modified by the information set forth herein.

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

     The Exhibits filed herewith or incorporated by reference herein are set
forth in the Exhibit Index filed as part of this Registration Statement.

                                       2
<PAGE>


                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1993, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the Village of Itasca, State of Illinois, on December 11, 1997.

                                        FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC.



                                        By: ROBERT P. O'MEARA
                                            --------------------------
                                            Robert P. O'Meara
                                            President, Principal Executive
                                            Officer and Director


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned officers and directors of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc., do
hereby constitute and appoint Robert P. O'Meara and Donald J. Swistowicz, and
either one of them, as their attorneys-in-fact with power and authority to do
any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said
attorneys-in-fact, and either one of them, determine may be necessary or
advisable or required to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules or regulations or requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with this Registration
Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing power and authority,
the powers granted include the power and authority to sign the names of the
undersigned officers and directors in the capacities indicated below to the
Registration Statement, to any and all amendments, both pre-effective and post-
effective, and supplements to this Registration Statement, and to any and all
instruments or documents filed as part of or in conjunction with this
Registration Statement or amendments or supplements thereto, and each of the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact or any
of them shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney
may be signed in several counterparts.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1993, this
Registration Statement has been signed on December 11, 1997 by the following
persons in the capacities indicated.




          Signatures                               Capacity
- -------------------------------     --------------------------------------

CLARENCE D. OBERWORTMANN
- -------------------------------
Clarence D. Oberwortmann            Chairman of the Board of Directors

ANDREW B. BARBER
- -------------------------------     Vice Chairman of the Board of
Andrew B. Barber                    Directors

ROBERT P. O'MEARA
- -------------------------------     President, Principal Executive
Robert P. O'Meara                   Officer and Director

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 

<S>                                                          <C> 
     JOHN M. O'MEARA
- --------------------------------------------------
                        John M. O'Meara                      Executive Vice President, Principal Operating Officer and
                                                             Director
     DONALD J. SWISTOWICZ
- --------------------------------------------------
                        Donald J. Swistowicz                 Executive Vice President, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
                                                             Director
     VERNON A. BRUNNER
- --------------------------------------------------
                        Vernon A. Brunner                    Director

     BRUCE S. CHELBERG
- --------------------------------------------------
                        Bruce S. Chelberg                    Director

     WILLIAM J. COWLIN
- --------------------------------------------------
                        William J. Cowlin                    Director

     O. RALPH EDWARDS
- --------------------------------------------------
                        O. Ralph Edwards                     Director

     JOSEPH W. ENGLAND
- --------------------------------------------------
                        Joseph W. England                    Director

     THOMAS M. GARVIN
- --------------------------------------------------
                        Thomas M. Garvin                     Director

     J. STEPHEN VANDERWOUDE
- --------------------------------------------------
                        J. Stephen Vanderwoude               Director

</TABLE>


                                       4
<PAGE>


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit                                                                                  Sequential
 Number                              Description of Documents                            Page Number
- -------    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------
<S>        <C>                                                                           <C>
    4      Restated Certificate of Incorporation, is incorporated herein by reference
           to Exhibit 3 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated               -
           March 31, 1996.

    4.1    Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, Form of Rights Certificate and
           Designation of Series A Preferred Stock of the Registrant, dated November
           15, 1995 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibits (1) through (3) of        -
           the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the
           Securities and Exchange Commission on November 21, 1995.

    4.2    First Amendment to Rights Agreement dated June 18, 1997, is incorporated           -
           herein by reference to Exhibit 4 of the Registrant's Amendment No. 2 to the
           Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange
           Commission on June 30, 1997.

    5      Opinion of Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz.                                      6

   10      Third, Fourth and Fifth Amendment to 1989 Omnibus Stock and Incentive              7
           Plan.

   23.1    Consent of Vedder, Price, Kaufman and Kammholz (contained in the
           opinion filed as Exhibit 5).

   23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.                                                      15

   23.3    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.                                                  16

   24      Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page hereof).                        3
</TABLE>

                                       5

<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT 5
                                                                       ---------
                       Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz
                           222 North LaSalle Street
                        Chicago, Illinois  60601-10003


                                    December 15, 1997

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.
300 Park Blvd., Suite 405
P.O. Box 459
Itasca, IL  60143-0459

     Re:  First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.
          Registration Statement on Form S-8
          1989 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan
          -------------------------------------

Gentlemen:

     We are acting as special counsel to First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (the
"Corporation") in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") relating to up to 1,000,000 shares of the Corporation's common
stock, $.01 par value, including preferred share purchase rights (collectively,
"Common Stock").  The Common Stock is issuable under the Corporation's 1989
Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan (the "Plan").  The opinion set forth below
relates only to the Common Stock covered by the Registration Statement.

     In connection with our opinion below, we have examined originals, or
copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the
Registration Statement, the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-laws of the
Corporation, as amended, as well as such other corporate records, documents and
other papers as we deemed necessary to examine for purposes of this opinion.  In
making such examination, we have assumed as true, without independent review or
verification, facts certified to us by certain executive officers of the
Corporation and by public officials.

     Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

     1.   The Corporation is a corporation in good standing under the laws of
the State of Delaware; and

     2.   The 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock when issued by the Corporation in
connection with the Plan will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable shares of Common Stock, provided that such shares are issued in
accordance with the terms of the Plan and awards made as contemplated
thereunder.

<PAGE>
 
VEDDER PRICE



First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.
December 15, 1997
Page 2


The opinion expressed herein is limited to the laws and judicial practices of
the State of Delaware currently in effect.

     We hereby consent to the use of this opinion in connection with the
Registration Statement and to references to our firm therein.

                                    Very truly yours,


                                    VEDDER, PRICE, KAUFMAN & KAMMHOLZ


                                    By:  THOMAS P. DESMOND
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                         Thomas P. Desmond


cc:  Robert P. O'Meara
     Donald J. Swistowicz

<PAGE>
 

                                                                      Exhibit 10

                            THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE 
                          FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC.
                     1989 OMNIBUS STOCK AND INCENTIVE PLAN
                     -------------------------------------

     The First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. 1989 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan is
hereby amended as follows:

     1.  Section 2.1(e) is amended to read:

          (e) "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors or such other committee appointed from time to time by the Board of
Directors to administer this Plan.  The Committee shall consist of two or more
members, each of whom shall qualify as a "non-employee director," as the term
(or similar or successor term) is defined by Rule 16b-3, and as an "outside
director" within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder.

     2.  Section 4.1 is amended to read:

          4.1  Administration.  The Committee shall be responsible for the
administration of the Plan.  The Committee, by majority action thereof (whether
taken during a meeting or by written consent), is authorized to interpret the
Plan, to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the
Plan, to provide for conditions and assurances deemed necessary or advisable to
protect the interests of the Company, and to make all other determinations
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, but only to the
extent not contrary to the express provisions of the Plan.  Determinations,
interpretations, or other actions made or taken by the Committee pursuant to the
provisions of the Plan shall be final and binding and conclusive for all
purposes and upon all persons whomsoever.  To the extent deemed necessary or
advisable for purposes of Rule 16b-3 or otherwise, the Board may act as the
Committee hereunder.

     3.  Section 5.1 is amended to read:

          5.1  Number and Amount Available for Award to Single Participant.
Giving effect to the 5-for-4 stock split accomplished in the form of a stock
dividend paid during January 1997, the total number of shares of Stock subject
to Awards under the Plan may not exceed 2,096,875 (of this total number up to
100,000 shares of Stock may be issued in Restricted Stock), and the total number
of shares of Stock which may be made subject to Awards granted under the Plan in
any calendar year to any single Participant may not exceed 81,250.  Such numbers
of shares shall be subject to adjustment upon occurrence of any of the events
described in Section 5.3.  The shares to be delivered under the Plan may
consist, in whole or in part, of authorized but unissued Stock or treasury
Stock, not reserved for any other purpose.
<PAGE>
 

     4.  Section 7.5 is amended to read:

          7.5  Payment.  Options shall be exercised by the delivery of a written
notice of exercise to the Company, setting forth the number of shares of Stock
with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment
for the Stock. The Option Price upon exercise of any Option shall be payable to
the Company in full either:

     (a)  in cash or its equivalent (including, for this purpose, the proceeds
          from a cashless exercise as permitted under Federal Reserve Board's
          Regulation T, or other borrowed funds),

     (b)  by tendering previously-acquired Stock having an aggregate Fair Market
          Value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option price
          (including, for this purpose, Stock deemed tendered by affirmation of
          ownership),

     (c)  by any other means which the Committee determines to be consistent
          with the Plan's purpose and applicable law, or

     (d)  by a combination of (a), (b), and (c).

The exercise of an Option shall cancel any related SAR to the extent of the
number of shares as to which the Option is exercised.  As soon as practicable
after receipt of each notice and full payment, the Company shall deliver to the
Participant a certificate or certificates representing acquired shares of Stock.

     5.   Section 7.10 is amended to read:

          7.10 Limited Transferability of Options.  Except as provided below, no
Option granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or
otherwise alienated or hypothecated, otherwise than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution.  Further, all Options granted to a Participant under
the Plan shall be exercisable during his lifetime only by such Participant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, authorize
all or a portion of the Options (other than Incentive Stock Options) granted to
a Participant to be on terms which permit transfer by such Participant to:

          (a) the spouse, children or grandchildren of the Participant
     ("Immediate Family Members");

          (b) a trust or trusts for the exclusive benefit of such Immediate
     Family Members, or;

          (c) a partnership in which such Immediate Family Members are the only
     partners,

                                       2
<PAGE>
 

provided that:

          (i)  there may be no consideration for any such transfer;

          (ii) the Award Agreement pursuant to which such Options are granted
     expressly provides for transferability in a manner consistent with this
     Section 7.10; and

          (iii)  subsequent transfers of transferred Options shall be prohibited
     except those in accordance with Section 11. Following transfer, any such
     Options shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as
     were applicable immediately prior to transfer, provided that for purposes
     of Section 11 hereof the term "Participant" shall be deemed to refer to the
     transferee.  The provisions of Sections 7 and 13 relating to the period of
     exercisability and expiration of the Option shall continue to be applied
     with respect to the original Participant, and the Options shall be
     exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the periods, set
     forth in said Sections 7 and 13.

     6.   Section 8.9 is deleted and Sections 8.10, 8.11 and 8.12 are renumbered
8.9, 8.10 and 8.11, respectively.

     7.   Section 15 is amended in its entirety to read:

                                   Article 15

                                Tax Withholding

     15.1 Tax Withholding.  The Company shall have the power and the right to
deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount
sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign,
required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event
arising as a result of the Plan.

     15.2 Share Withholding.  With respect to withholding required upon the
exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock,
or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of awards granted hereunder,
Participants may elect to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in
part, by having the Company withhold shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value
on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory total tax
which would be imposed on the transaction. All such elections shall be
irrevocable, made in writing, signed by the Participant, and shall be subject to
any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion,
deems appropriate.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                   * * * * *

     The foregoing Third Amendment to the 1989 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan
was duly adopted and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on May
21, 1997 and shall become effective as of such date.


                                        JAMES M. ROOLF
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Secretary of the Company

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                            FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE
                          FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC.
                     1989 OMNIBUS STOCK AND INCENTIVE PLAN
                     -------------------------------------

     The First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. 1989 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan is
hereby amended as follows:

     1.   Section  13.2 is amended to read:

     13.2 Definition.  For purposes of the Plan, a "change in control"
shall mean any of the following events:

          (a)  Any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
               the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than (i)
               a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee
               benefit plan of the Company or a subsidiary, or (ii) a
               corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of
               the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
               ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the "beneficial
               owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or
               indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 10% or more
               of the total voting power of the then outstanding shares of
               capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
               election of directors (the "Voting Stock"), or

          (b)  During any period of two consecutive years, individuals, who at
               the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of
               the Company, and any new director, whose election by the Board of
               Directors or nomination for election by the Company's
               stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3)
               of the directors then still in office who either were directors
               at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination
               for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to
               constitute a majority thereof, or

          (c)  The stockholders of the Company approve a merger of consolidation
               of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or
               consolidation which would result in the Voting Stock outstanding
               immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by
               remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
               securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the total
               voting power represented by the Voting Stock or the voting
               securities of such surviving entity outstanding immediately after
               such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Company
               approve a Plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an
               agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or
               substantially all of the Company's assets.
<PAGE>
 
The Board has final authority to determine the exact date on which a change in
control has been deemed to have occurred under (a), (b), and (c) above.

                                   * * * * *

     The foregoing Fourth Amendment to the 1989 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan
was duly adopted and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on May
21, 1997 and shall become effective as of such date.

                                    JAMES M. ROOLF
                                    -------------------------------------
                                    Secretary of the Company
<PAGE>
 
                            FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE
                          FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC.
                     1989 OMNIBUS STOCK AND INCENTIVE PLAN
                     -------------------------------------

     The First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. 1989 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan is
hereby amended as follows:

     1.   Section 7.5 is amended to read:

          7.5  Payment.  Options shall be exercised by the delivery of a written
notice of exercise to the Company, setting forth the number of shares of Stock
with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment
for the Stock. The Option Price upon exercise of any Option shall be payable to
the Company in full either:

          (a)  in cash or its equivalent (including, for this purpose, the
               proceeds from a cashless exercise as permitted under Federal
               Reserve Board's Regulation T, or other borrowed funds),

          (b)  by tendering previously-acquired Stock having an aggregate Fair
               Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option
               price (including, for this purpose, Stock deemed tendered by
               affirmation of ownership),

          (c)  by any other means which the Committee determines to be
               consistent with the Plan's purpose and applicable law, or

          (d)  by a combination of (a), (b), and (c).

The exercise of an Option shall cancel any related SAR to the extent of the
number of shares as to which the Option is exercised.  As soon as practicable
after receipt of each notice and full payment, the Company shall deliver to the
Participant a certificate or certificates representing acquired shares of Stock.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option price payable with respect to the
exercise of any Options by a Participant who has a deferral election in effect
under the Company's Nonqualified Stock Option - Gain Deferral Plan (the "Gain
Deferral Plan") shall be made solely be tendering previously-acquired Stock in
accordance with paragraph (b) above.  As soon as practicable after receipt of
notice of exercise and payment, the Company shall deliver to the trustee of the
trust established under the Gain Deferral Plan, a certificate or certificates
representing such number of shares of Stock determined by dividing (i) the
excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock purchased pursuant to
such Option exercise, over (B) the aggregate exercise price of the shares of
Stock purchased, by (ii) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock.  In
addition, as soon as practicable after receipt of such notice and payment of the
Option price (other than payment by affirmation of ownership), the Company shall
deliver to the Participant a certificate or certificates representing shares
with a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate option exercise price paid, net
of any tax withholding pursuant to Section 15.2.  For purposes of the foregoing,
Fair Market Value shall be determined on the date of Option exercise.
<PAGE>
 
     2.   Section 15 is amended in its entirety to read:

                                  Article 15

                                Tax Withholding

     15.1 Tax Withholding.  The Company shall have the power and the right to
deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount
sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign,
required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event
arising as a result of the Plan.

     15.2 Share Withholding.  With respect to withholding required upon the
exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock,
or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of awards granted hereunder,
Participants may elect to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in
part, by having the Company withhold shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value
on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory total tax
which would be imposed on the transaction; provided, however, that in the event
a deferral election is in effect with respect to the shares deliverable upon
exercise of an Option, then the Participant may only elect to have such
withholding made from the Stock tendered to exercise such Option.  All such
elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing, signed by the Participant, and
shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its
sole discretion, deems appropriate.


                                   * * * * *

     The foregoing Fifth Amendment to the 1989 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan
was duly adopted and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on
November 19, 1997 and shall become effective as of such date.

                                  JAMES M. ROOLF                     
                                  --------------------------------------------
                                  Secretary of the Company

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 23.2



                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
                        -------------------------------



We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8) pertaining to the First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. 1989 Omnibus Stock and
Incentive Plan of our report dated January 16, 1997, with respect to the 1996
consolidated financial statements of First Midwest Bancorp, inc. included in its
Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1996, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.



ERNST & YOUNG LLP



Chicago, Illinois
December 11, 1997

<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 23.3







                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
                        -------------------------------

The Board of Directors
First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement on
Form S-8 (File No. 33-42980) of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. of our report dated
January 19, 1996, relating to the consolidated statement of condition of First
Midwest Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995, and the related
consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity and cash
flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 1995,
which report appears in the December 31, 1996 annual report on Form 10-K of
First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.



KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP



Chicago, Illinois
December 11, 1997


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